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Poll shows Hispanics' view of Obama improving

MIAMI — Hispanic enthusiasm for the president is on the rise following Barack Obama’s announcement earlier this month that certain illegal immigrants will be allowed to stay and work in the United States, according to a poll released Wednesday.

Most Hispanics were already backing the president ahead of the November election, but the percentage of those polled whose view of the president was “very positive” rose 10 points to 41 percent, as compared to a similar May poll. The percentage of Hispanics who felt similarly about Mitt Romney remained at around 6 percent. The poll also found the 300 people interviewed were more likely to approve of Obama’s handling of the economy than in May.

Compared to previous elections, 57 percent of registered voters who responded said they were more enthusiastic about voting than usual.

The level of enthusiasm among voters — and how many actually come out to vote — will be key in what is expected to be an extremely tight election.

The Obama administration announced June 15 it would stop deporting and begin granting work permits for certain immigrants under the age of 30 who are living in the country illegally. Those who qualify have to have been brought to the U.S. before they were 16, have a clean criminal record and either be a student or a military veteran.

Romney has called the announcement a political move but has not said whether he would repeal it if elected. He previously said he would veto the so-called “Dream Act,” if it passes. Obama supports that act, which would provide a path to citizenship for these individuals. More recently, Romney has said he would consider a scaled back plan that did not include citizenship.

The monthly poll was conducted from June 20 to June 24 by NBC News, its sister company Telemundo, and the Wall Street Journal. Its margin of error was plus or minus 5.66 percent.